Chhattisgarh
Chhote Paroda, Belar, Bandaji, Kumhali, Chhindgaon, Takraguda, Dhuragaon, Sirisguda, Dabpal and Beliyapal
,
Lohandiguda
,
Bastar
Published : 12 July, 2014   |   Last updated - 24 Jun, 2024
Chhattisgarh Government Returns Bastar Land Acquired for Tata Steel Plant to Farmers
Reported by
Riddhi Pandey
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Updated by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
8194
People Affected
2005
Year started
1764
Land area affected
Households affected
8194
People Affected
2005
Year started
1764
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Industry
Reason/Cause of conflict
Steel Plant
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
1
Summary

In 2005, Tata Steel had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation to build a mega steel plant in Lohandiguda in Bastar district. The land, measuring approximately 2,000 hectares, was acquired from 10 villages, affecting over 1,700 farmers.  However, as many as 542 farmers refused to give up their land and accept compensation. They complained that the promises made in the past for land acquisition were also not kept and that the affected people did not get proper rehabilitation. Consequently, Tata Steel did not develop the proposed plant for more than a decade due to the persisting disagreement.  In 2015, the Bharatiya Janata Party, which was in power then, cancelled Tata's licence.  In August 2016, Tata Steel announced its withdrawal from Lohandiguda citing law and order problems due to the presence of Naxalites in the region. However, the state government refused to return the land to the farmers as it wanted to create a land bank for industrial purposes. The Congress, who was in opposition then, maintained that the government should return the acquired land to its owners.  In December 2018, when the Congress came to power in the state, Chief Minister Bhupesh Bhagel decided to return the land acquired from farmers for a steel plant of the Tata Group. In its poll manifesto for the Assembly elections, the Congress had promised to return those lands to farmers that remained unutilised by companies after five years of land acquisition.  In January 2019, the state government finally issued an order to return 1764.61 hectares of land to the villagers. The farmers have now reportedly taken possession of their plots. 

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Refusal to give up land for the project

Demand to get back acquired land

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Both

Forest and Non-Forest

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

19500

Type of investment:

Cost of Project

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

Yes

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

Author
Reported by
Riddhi Pandey

Chhattisgarh

Kumar Sambhav is a social entrepreneur and award-winning journalist, leading innovative research in accountability investigations. He is the founder of Land Conflict Watch and is currently working as India Research Lead with Princeton University’s Digital Witness Lab.

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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Refusal to give up land for the project

Demand to get back acquired land

Chhattisgarh Government Returns Bastar Land Acquired for Tata Steel Plant to Farmers

Reported by

Riddhi Pandey

Legal Review by

Edited by

Updated by

Updated by

Published on

October 8, 2016

May 17, 2022

Edited on

October 8, 2016

Sector

Industry

Reason or Cause of Conflict

Steel Plant

Starting Year

2005

Land Area Affected (in Hectares)

1764

ha

Households Affected by Conflict

People Affected by Conflict

8194

State

Chhattisgarh

Sector

Industry

People Affected by Conflict

8194

Households Affected by Conflict

Land Area Affected (in Hectares)

1764

ha

Starting Year

2005

Location of Conflict

Lohandiguda

Chhote Paroda, Belar, Bandaji, Kumhali, Chhindgaon, Takraguda, Dhuragaon, Sirisguda, Dabpal and Beliyapal

Bastar

Reason or Cause of Conflict

Steel Plant

Land Conflict Summary

In 2005, Tata Steel had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation to build a mega steel plant in Lohandiguda in Bastar district. The land, measuring approximately 2,000 hectares, was acquired from 10 villages, affecting over 1,700 farmers.  However, as many as 542 farmers refused to give up their land and accept compensation. They complained that the promises made in the past for land acquisition were also not kept and that the affected people did not get proper rehabilitation. Consequently, Tata Steel did not develop the proposed plant for more than a decade due to the persisting disagreement.  In 2015, the Bharatiya Janata Party, which was in power then, cancelled Tata's licence.  In August 2016, Tata Steel announced its withdrawal from Lohandiguda citing law and order problems due to the presence of Naxalites in the region. However, the state government refused to return the land to the farmers as it wanted to create a land bank for industrial purposes. The Congress, who was in opposition then, maintained that the government should return the acquired land to its owners.  In December 2018, when the Congress came to power in the state, Chief Minister Bhupesh Bhagel decided to return the land acquired from farmers for a steel plant of the Tata Group. In its poll manifesto for the Assembly elections, the Congress had promised to return those lands to farmers that remained unutilised by companies after five years of land acquisition.  In January 2019, the state government finally issued an order to return 1764.61 hectares of land to the villagers. The farmers have now reportedly taken possession of their plots. 

Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Refusal to give up land for the project

Demand to get back acquired land

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Both

Type of Common Land

Forest and Non-Forest

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

19500

Type of investment:

Cost of Project

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

Yes

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

Legal Data

Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict

Land Acquisition Laws, Other, Case Laws

Legislations/Policies Involved

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Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute

What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?

What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?

Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:

Non-implementation/violation of LARR Act

Legal Status:

Out of Court

Status of Case In Court

Whether any adjudicatory body was approached

Name of the adjudicatory body

Name(s) of the Court(s)

Case Number

Main Reasoning/Decision of court

Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:

No items found.

Reported Details of the Violation:

Date of Violation

Location of Violation

Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Tata Steel

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Resources

Resources Related to Conflict

  • News Articles Related to the Conflict:
  • Documents Related to the Conflict:
  • Links Related to the Conflict:

Images

Image Credit:  

Image Credit:  

Video

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